Sorry for the delay getting back to you. The exhibition overall is thought-provoking. When I went, there were few other people and so could spend some time viewing very large prints without being disturbed.masochistic_me said:
Usually I've found Sally Mann's images give me an uncomfortable feeling. No doubt because the upbringing of her children is so different from what most think of as normal. But also because, with the use of props that are associated with adults (like the cigarettes, pushchair, sunglasses etc) and the adult poses, kind of provoke thoughts of a disturbing future for them.
But seeing Mann's photographs in the context of the exhibition brought out a particularly uneasy theme. The other 20 or so artists had their own ideas of abnormal and disturbing childhoods.
There was a Dutch duo called Lamswerde and Matedin (sp) who put leering male mouths seemlessly on tiny young girls. But it wasn't obvious at first, you just kind of had this uneasy feeling about them.
Many of the images seemed to force you to take the position of voyeur. I didn't enjoy it, but I'll go back again to view Mann's images. Out of context, (and from a photographer's analytical viewpoint) they've got a quality that I have to admit I wasn't really expecting.
Unfortunately it doesn't tell a lot but here's a link Mixed Up Childhood Exhb - Auckland Art Gallery